A Hispanic Ministry Plan for the North Indiana Conference
2004-2005
"...in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power." -Acts 2:11 (NRSV)
The National Plan for the Hispanic Ministry is the first coordinated, comprehensive effort of the UMC to focus on the development and strengthening of Hispanic Ministries. For the last years our church, through its conferences, has been working hard to implement this plan and enjoying its fruits. The NIC is responding to the challenge to reach out the Hispanic community in our cities and towns. We believe that this is just the beginning of a new era in the life of our conference and the Hispanic community. The Holy Spirit is breathing a new wind of love and passion for the new people around us. This Hispanic Ministry Plan for the NIC is our own specific answer to God’s call and to the people’s cry for help in these geographies.
- Strengthen the Conference Committee on Hispanic Ministries
The CCHM will be part of a training event to understand the National Plan on Hispanic Ministries and the conference responsibilities to implement the Plan.
Provide opportunities for the CCHM to know more about the characteristics of the Hispanics in northern Indiana.
- Strengthen the Bishop and Cabinet
Provide to the Bishop and the cabinet the opportunity to be part of an event to understand the National Plan on Hispanic Ministries and the conference responsibilities to implement it.
- Develop a Hispanic committee in three more districts.
Actually we have 3 organized district committees (Fort Wayne, Calumet, and Lafayette) Three more are in the process (Michiana, Kokomo and Warsaw) Marion could be the seventh district to organize a DCHM.
In the while districts without a DCHM the CCHM, the DS and the CC will take the direct responsibility to implement the Hispanic ministry in that area.
- Organize a Module II in the summer 2005.
We need to provide to our pastor-mentors and lay-missioners the opportunity to continue with the training through the Module II in the next year.
- Start implementing the Calumet District Plan on Hispanic Ministries.
A Hispanic ministries plan for the Calumet District will be presented soon to the DS and to the churches in that district. We believe that this Plan will be accepted and implemented to develop Hispanic ministries in the district.
- Help Pueblo de Dios and El Mesías to strengthen their ministry.
Pueblo de Dios and El Mesías are in need to strengthen their ministries in some areas.
- Strong membership
- Growth in numbers
- Healthy finances
- A “home” for Pueblo de Dios
- Support the Hispanic leaders (Nancy Liévano, Leonardo Flores, Agustin Margary, and Juan Martinez) in their preparation process.
Provide any possible opportunity to help these leaders to get the best preparation for their ministry.
- Start working with the different Boards and Committees to find support for the Hispanic ministry in our conference. (The National Plan for Hispanic Ministries, pages 19-22)
Several General Agencies have specific commitments to support the Hispanic ministries. These agencies, at different levels, are important to provide a support net for the Hispanic Ministry in a national and conference level.
- Present a Petition to the North Indiana Annual Conference 2005 to create a new position of an Associate Director for the Hispanic Ministries.
The CCHM will specify the way we will present the petition to the 2005 Annual Conference.
